Best place to get a spider vane?

Hi,

I have an old (circa 1987) Coulter Odyssey Compact (10.1", f 4.5)
Dobsonian that has a fixed (non-adjustable) vane and holder for the
secondary. I'm sad to say that it's badly in need of collimation, but
since I can't adjust the secondary, I was thinking of replacing it
with a spider vane. So far I have found:

http://www.scopecity.com (they sell 4-vane spider made by Parks, but
they seem expensive - $70 for an 11 7/8" spider)
http://www.e-scopes.cc/ (a more reasonable $40 for a 4-vane, but the
hub is only 1.8" and my secondary is 2.5")

In both cases it's really hard to judge the quality, so I was hoping
someone here had some first-hand experience with these or other
suppliers (or even advice on collimating an old Coulter!)

Thanks,
Todd
San Jose, CA

Check out:

University Optics: http://www.universityoptics.com/ From the front
page, click on the link to Telescope Building Supplies and scroll down to
the 4-vane spider. Prices look good.

Parks Optical: http://www.parksoptical.com/ Use the link to Telescope
Making Components and scroll down to the spiders. The site does not tell
you much, just has pictures of the items.

Here are some others:
Meridian Telescopes: http://www.meridiantelescopes.com/detspidr.htm

This site has a long discussion and description of their spider:
http://www.fpi-protostar.com/diagmnt.htm

--
----
JAS


"Todd" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

I have an old (circa 1987) Coulter Odyssey Compact (10.1", f 4.5)
Dobsonian that has a fixed (non-adjustable) vane and holder for the
secondary. I'm sad to say that it's badly in need of collimation, but
since I can't adjust the secondary, I was thinking of replacing it
with a spider vane. So far I have found:

http://www.scopecity.com (they sell 4-vane spider made by Parks, but
they seem expensive - $70 for an 11 7/8" spider)
http://www.e-scopes.cc/ (a more reasonable $40 for a 4-vane, but the
hub is only 1.8" and my secondary is 2.5")

In both cases it's really hard to judge the quality, so I was hoping
someone here had some first-hand experience with these or other
suppliers (or even advice on collimating an old Coulter!)

Thanks,
Todd
San Jose, CA

This site has a long discussion and description of their spider:
http://www.fpi-protostar.com/diagmnt.htm

These are top notch spiders.

Discovery Telescopes also sells spiders and secondary holders.

http://www.discovery-telescopes.com/accessories.html

The price is right on the UO spiders but I purchased on for an 8 inch DOB and I
was underwhelmed by the quality.

jon

This site has a long discussion and description of their spider:
http://www.fpi-protostar.com/diagmnt.htm

These are top notch spiders.

Discovery Telescopes also sells spiders and secondary holders.

http://www.discovery-telescopes.com/accessories.html

The price is right on the UO spiders but I purchased on for an 8 inch DOB and I
was underwhelmed by the quality.

jon

This site has a long discussion and description of their spider:
http://www.fpi-protostar.com/diagmnt.htm

These are top notch spiders.

Discovery Telescopes also sells spiders and secondary holders.

http://www.discovery-telescopes.com/accessories.html

The price is right on the UO spiders but I purchased on for an 8 inch DOB and I
was underwhelmed by the quality.

jon

Check out:

University Optics: http://www.universityoptics.com/ From the front
page, click on the link to Telescope Building Supplies and scroll down to
the 4-vane spider. Prices look good.

Parks Optical: http://www.parksoptical.com/ Use the link to Telescope
Making Components and scroll down to the spiders. The site does not tell
you much, just has pictures of the items.

Here are some others:
Meridian Telescopes: http://www.meridiantelescopes.com/detspidr.htm

This site has a long discussion and description of their spider:
http://www.fpi-protostar.com/diagmnt.htm

--
----
JAS


"Todd" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

I have an old (circa 1987) Coulter Odyssey Compact (10.1", f 4.5)
Dobsonian that has a fixed (non-adjustable) vane and holder for the
secondary. I'm sad to say that it's badly in need of collimation, but
since I can't adjust the secondary, I was thinking of replacing it
with a spider vane. So far I have found:

http://www.scopecity.com (they sell 4-vane spider made by Parks, but
they seem expensive - $70 for an 11 7/8" spider)
http://www.e-scopes.cc/ (a more reasonable $40 for a 4-vane, but the
hub is only 1.8" and my secondary is 2.5")

In both cases it's really hard to judge the quality, so I was hoping
someone here had some first-hand experience with these or other
suppliers (or even advice on collimating an old Coulter!)

Thanks,
Todd
San Jose, CA

Check out:

University Optics: http://www.universityoptics.com/ From the front
page, click on the link to Telescope Building Supplies and scroll down to
the 4-vane spider. Prices look good.

Parks Optical: http://www.parksoptical.com/ Use the link to Telescope
Making Components and scroll down to the spiders. The site does not tell
you much, just has pictures of the items.

Here are some others:
Meridian Telescopes: http://www.meridiantelescopes.com/detspidr.htm

This site has a long discussion and description of their spider:
http://www.fpi-protostar.com/diagmnt.htm

--
----
JAS


"Todd" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

I have an old (circa 1987) Coulter Odyssey Compact (10.1", f 4.5)
Dobsonian that has a fixed (non-adjustable) vane and holder for the
secondary. I'm sad to say that it's badly in need of collimation, but
since I can't adjust the secondary, I was thinking of replacing it
with a spider vane. So far I have found:

http://www.scopecity.com (they sell 4-vane spider made by Parks, but
they seem expensive - $70 for an 11 7/8" spider)
http://www.e-scopes.cc/ (a more reasonable $40 for a 4-vane, but the
hub is only 1.8" and my secondary is 2.5")

In both cases it's really hard to judge the quality, so I was hoping
someone here had some first-hand experience with these or other
suppliers (or even advice on collimating an old Coulter!)

Thanks,
Todd
San Jose, CA

Todd

I have one of Astrosystems spiders and im very pleased with it. I also
purchased a diagonal and holder from them.

Here's the link

http://www.astrosystems.biz/spiders.htm

Rich

On 12 Jan 2004 22:59:54 -0800, (Todd) wrote:

Hi,

I have an old (circa 1987) Coulter Odyssey Compact (10.1", f 4.5)
Dobsonian that has a fixed (non-adjustable) vane and holder for the
secondary. I'm sad to say that it's badly in need of collimation, but
since I can't adjust the secondary, I was thinking of replacing it
with a spider vane. So far I have found:

http://www.scopecity.com (they sell 4-vane spider made by Parks, but
they seem expensive - $70 for an 11 7/8" spider)
http://www.e-scopes.cc/ (a more reasonable $40 for a 4-vane, but the
hub is only 1.8" and my secondary is 2.5")

In both cases it's really hard to judge the quality, so I was hoping
someone here had some first-hand experience with these or other
suppliers (or even advice on collimating an old Coulter!)

Thanks,
Todd
San Jose, CA

Todd

I have one of Astrosystems spiders and im very pleased with it. I also
purchased a diagonal and holder from them.

Here's the link

http://www.astrosystems.biz/spiders.htm

Rich

On 12 Jan 2004 22:59:54 -0800, (Todd) wrote:

Hi,

I have an old (circa 1987) Coulter Odyssey Compact (10.1", f 4.5)
Dobsonian that has a fixed (non-adjustable) vane and holder for the
secondary. I'm sad to say that it's badly in need of collimation, but
since I can't adjust the secondary, I was thinking of replacing it
with a spider vane. So far I have found:

http://www.scopecity.com (they sell 4-vane spider made by Parks, but
they seem expensive - $70 for an 11 7/8" spider)
http://www.e-scopes.cc/ (a more reasonable $40 for a 4-vane, but the
hub is only 1.8" and my secondary is 2.5")

In both cases it's really hard to judge the quality, so I was hoping
someone here had some first-hand experience with these or other
suppliers (or even advice on collimating an old Coulter!)

Thanks,
Todd
San Jose, CA

Todd

I have one of Astrosystems spiders and im very pleased with it. I also
purchased a diagonal and holder from them.

Here's the link

http://www.astrosystems.biz/spiders.htm

Rich

On 12 Jan 2004 22:59:54 -0800, (Todd) wrote:

Hi,

I have an old (circa 1987) Coulter Odyssey Compact (10.1", f 4.5)
Dobsonian that has a fixed (non-adjustable) vane and holder for the
secondary. I'm sad to say that it's badly in need of collimation, but
since I can't adjust the secondary, I was thinking of replacing it
with a spider vane. So far I have found:

http://www.scopecity.com (they sell 4-vane spider made by Parks, but
they seem expensive - $70 for an 11 7/8" spider)
http://www.e-scopes.cc/ (a more reasonable $40 for a 4-vane, but the
hub is only 1.8" and my secondary is 2.5")

In both cases it's really hard to judge the quality, so I was hoping
someone here had some first-hand experience with these or other
suppliers (or even advice on collimating an old Coulter!)

Thanks,
Todd
San Jose, CA